Pregnancy, Breastfeeding And Weaning |

Find out about Conwy Breastfeeders Peer Supporters 7th March 2012

February 22nd, 2012

Conwy Breastfeeding Friends Peer Supporters have been nominated for the Pride Of Conwy Award and have decided to open their doors to those wanting further information about training to become a Peer Supporter.

Have you ever thought you’d like to help other mothers? Have you breastfed your children for a 6 months or longer? If so then come along to Princes Drive Baptist Church, Colwyn Bay, LL29 8LA on the Wednesday 7th March, from 10am-12pm.

You can ask questions about the training and what’s involved. You can also find out about becoming a Breastfeeding Councillor too. If you would like some Peer Support yourself, then you are welcome too.

There will be some filming for our awards clip but that won’t take up much time. Tea and coffee will be available and some friendly faces and children are always welcome.

Posted in Breastfeeding | Comments

News from Formula Free – Infant Formula Company Owned by Facebook Shareholder

February 16th, 2012

BREAKING NEWS from http://formulafree.com/pages/FacebookDebate.htm

Facebook is a very resourceful place for social and business networking. However as most people have heard through the media lately, Facebook has removed profile pictures of breastfeeding.

While there are many opinions about repeated removals and no attempt by Facebook to accept the breastfeeding photos, I thought WHY?!? Why is it a big deal? Why would Facebook remove nursing photographs (most of which barley show any breast)?

The researched and factual answer is:

A Facebook Shareholder is the owner of an Infant Formula Company!

Billionaire Li Ka-Shang who is a Facebook Shareholder of 0.75% (an estimated $165 million value) owns Hutchison China MediTech Ltd.

This may not appear to be a substantial amount, however when you review the shareholder list for Facebook it is a substantial influence.

Hutchison China MediTech Ltd announced on May 26, 2011 that it will enter the Chinese infant-formula milk powder market through cooperation with Hain Celestial Group Inc, a leading US natural and organic products company.

“By launching Earth’s Best and Zhi Ling Tong co-branded organic infant formula in China, the companies are targeting the country’s premium market” … China “sees 15 million newborn infants every year, thus the market potential of baby milk powder is huge”.

“In the next five years, the company will strive to gain 2 percent market share, which equals some $123 million.”

A fast mention that Interpublic Group which is another Facebook Shareholder of less than 0.5% (an estimated $110 million value) is the parent company of Draftfcb, and Lowe + Partners.

Draftfcb client list includes Nestle and Pfizer. Both companies are known for infant formula. Lowe + Partners also list Nestle as a client.

You might ask what this has to do with breastfeeding photos on Facebook. That is a simple answer; however, you tell me why Facebook’s shareholders who invest in an infant formula company would want to stop the promotion of breastfeeding?

There are many debates and disagreements within our society of how to raise a child. But there is no synthetic substitute that can compare to true Organic Milk from a mother.

Society should be changed for the better, to a culture that promotes Formula Free babies and supports breastfeeding. What society seems to forget is that breastfeeding is normal! The more you see something, the more normal it becomes and the less people will relate a bottle to a baby before a breast.

It seems that Facebook while free to its users comes with a price. Social networking is controlled by those who can afford to control it. One thing the formula companies will never be able to market and never understand is the bond that breastfeeding creates. We do not breastfeed to save money (that is just a bonus), we breastfeed because it’s the best thing for our babies, ourselves, and our environment!

Breastfeeding moms make a difference! Keep up the great work and if you want to pass on the research we’ve done, feel free to Share on Facebook, Tweet it or pin it! We can all make a difference and you already have!

Posted in Lactivism | Comments

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Teen and Young Mom Breastfeeding Story

By Lisa Lactivist, on June 24th, 2011

This amazing story is by Noelia Valdez who was born in Argentina, moved to America at 15 and had her first baby at 16 years old.

My breastfeeding story, struggles, determination and love

I always knew that I want to breastfeed my kids, in fact I never think in other way to feed a baby. I remember when I was a little girl, while my friends bottle feed their dolls I breastfeed them. It seem to easy at that moment I always say “oh I can’t wait to have my baby and breastfeed him or her” and I’ll never forget how I tell everybody ” I going to have five kids”. At that moment (about 6 or 8 years old) the fact that my mom was a teen mom, it was normal to me, later on she told me about this and who much she struggles with me.
All my mom speaks go to the trash when I get pregnant at 16 years old, But even that I knew is not right, even that everybody tells me that I can’t, I was determinate to rise this child, to breastfeed him, to love him with all my heart and even more. I know thats is not the best to have a child at 16, but he didn’t ask to come, and is on his way now, so I deside to give him the best of me.

During those 9 months I read as much as posible to prepere my self, that was hard because I came from a family who asumme that they know everything and never take the time to learn something new. I keep reading and learning about almost everything, I went to a natural child birth clases all by my self, I read about vaccines, how to bath my baby, who to know if your baby is ready for solid food, even potty training. I never read or recived any information about breastfeed a baby. No body tell me how hard or how many struggles I could have. I asume it was easy, just put the baby on the breast and he do the rest…OMG!!! I wasn’t preper me for that.

On September 14th 2001, I was 2 weeks over due, so my ob-gyn send me to the hospital for induction, my natural child birth plan was ruin, but the health of my baby was more inportant. When I get to the Hospital I was 3cm dilated, oh I was so happy that lavor start on his own, I breath on every contraction but I knew this was the lavor that I dream about, but I never feel so scare in my life.

On September 15th 2001 at 1:20pm. My son Lautaro born on a drug free delivery, beautiful baby boy, he weight 9lb 2oz. My most beautiful wish came true , may be he came a little early in my life, but after all this is what I dream of since I was a little girl. Oh gosh my heart was bumping so hard, “he is perfect, I can’t wait to breastfeed him” I tell my mom. But the nurses take him, they say “we need to check him and then we bring him back” ok I say, I was so happy and I didn’t know what to expect, what are the rules on this hospital and I was scare to ask.

I take a shower and wait for my son in the room, 2 hrs later I was worried so I ask was going on, I call the nurse and ask for my baby. I wasn’t prepare for what comes next. They bring my baby, he was sleeping, I carry him in a football position and take my breast out “he already eat” say the nurse “what, what he eat? why?” I reply, “we give him formula, there is a pack under his crib” I just cry and say again “why?” she replay in a very mad way “because your baby needs to eat”.

How hard was this to me, I was sad, I was mad but more than ever I was determinate to breastfeed my son. I start by holding him close to my breast, alot of skin to skin contact. No body tell me that, it was just instict I gest. He was very sleepy the first day, any way I attemt to breastfeed him every hour without any success. He already had a very bad nipple confusion and I didn’t know what to do, no body in that hospital wants to help, in fact they were pushing me to use formula. Ten years ago I even know that lactation consultant exist, I realy feel hopeless, my mom didn’t breastfeed me and my aunts who both had infants at that time bottle feed them.

I never understood why they give him formula, I was so frustrated that I forget about my fears and call the nurse again, she give me the most stupid excuses “oh because you are so young, we think that formula it was the best for you and your baby, is hard for a young mom to nurse”. Oh realy?, so because a woman is 4 or 6 years older that me thats make breastfeeding more easy? that frustrate me more, why they assume that I don’t want to breastfeed? in what way formula was better for me and my baby? it was very confusing to hear that from a health professional. To make the thing worse my nipple were flat, my milk was already there and my breast was sore.

The next day my mom bring me a breast pump, I start pumping no only to give my baby “My Milk” but for my effort to give my nipples in shape. While I was puming another nurse came in and told me ” if you can’t breastfeed, give him a bottle, his starving” ohh how mad I was, but at that moment I knew it I can’t let him get between my determination on breastfeed my son, they no going to understand me. So I smile and say “ok give me the formula” as soon as she left I throw it to the trash.
Once at home, I was so engorged, the pain was afoul every attemt to nurse him frustrated me more.

Any way I keep trying, I didn’t know how to hold him, who to make him latch correctly. He only was able to take a tinny part of my nipple and that was very painful. I cry for 2 days straigh, more than once feel to give up, but I couldn’t fail my son, he deserve the best and I deserve this beautiful experince in life, at that moment I didn’t know that breastfeed my son could be so beautiful. It was just the right natural way to feed a child. Women breastfeed their childrens for years, even before the formula was invented, so why not me? what is the different between those woman to me? even many years ago woman has childrens very early in life, be a teen mom is not a reason for not breastfeed.

I keep pumping, “at least he has mine milk” that was enough for me I want to do what nature make me for, nourish my child.

Day number 3 came and after taking a shower to relief my breast it came to my
mind “a nipple shield” I scream calling my mom, she say “what? what is that?” “a nipple shield is a silicone nipple to put in my nipple, that may be work”. She went to buy one, two hours latter finaly I was breastfeeding my son from the breast. How beautiful, oh gosh all my life I was having this picture in my head and it was finally happend. That day I understand that breastfeed my son is more than feed him, is a conection that I never had with other human being, is pure love.

Weeks fly fast and a 8 weeks old we wean the nipple shield and both master the art of breastfeed. Soon enough to start school, at that moment I’m even care about nurse in public, I was doing the most natural so what my school mates think of me to be honest I do not care, no person in this wolrd could be more inportant that my
son, there is no person in this world that I could love more than my son.

I was happy and sad at the same time. Leave my son when I go to school, the absent of my baby’s father, the lack of support from my family who always was telling me “you can’t graduate, you are ruin your life, you don’t know how to raise a child, you this, you that…etc”. All this take me to a deep post partum deprecion. To make everything worse, the idea to let my mom take care of my son while I go to school kills me. Don’t take this in a bad way, I love her, but the true is that she never take care of me, she didn’t have any experience with babies and she was telling me to give
my son yogurt at 2 months old. But I didn’t have a choise and I realy apreciate her help.

For this 2 months I pump for my son, so he can have my milk (not yogurt) while I’m at school, everything was going great and I was prepare to start my senior year. But more barriers came to my right of breastfeed my son.

Here comes my new challenge in motherhood, school was from 6am to 2pm, take my pump with me for pumping sessions between clases or at lunch time. Soon I found out that my school not allowed me to pump, if I want to pump must do it in the bathroom sitting on the toilet, what of curse was very disgusting.

The pain of my congestion breasts was terrible and I have embarrassing leaks all day, and the nursing pads fail to handle it. Hopefully my mom agree to take my son to school at lunch time for a feeding. Oh how thankful I was with her, I couldn’t survive the other way. It was hard, no only because I was a student and a mom, but also I was a inmigrant from other country learning a new lenguage trying to finish high school so my hard work was doble.

Months past fast and then I remember what the nurse told me ” we think that formulait was the best for you and your baby, is hard for a young mom to nurse” wow!!! I can’t imaging me with all the work that I had, getting up to prepare bottles. I was realy happy for my determination to breastfeed, now I just take my breast out and continue sleeping or even do my homework with him in the breast.

I finish high school then I start a my nursing carrear, while having a part time job selling newspaper on the miami streets, and of curse continue with my ESOL clases. I did it!!!, life was very busy but when I was breasfeeding my son life stop and I was able to breath again, to take this time to enjoy our self, that was my break my reward
for a long day of hard working finaly my tight body can relax with a warm hug.

Breastfeeding my son was the picture that I had in my mind when I was a little girl, but I never knew how inportant can be this to me. To be honest I was depress, very depress and this wasen’t something new, I didn’t have a nice childhood, my mom was a teen mom, my dad leave when I was 1 year old, I meet him for the first time when I was 13 years old and my mom had a hard time keeping a relationship, many mens enter and leave our life all the time, it was a very disfuntional family. But the idea of having someone to love, have a unconditional love in my life help me, I have to admit after 3 attemt of suicide, the birth of my son save my life. When I was 14 I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and post traumatic streess disorder (something happend to me when I was 5) with severe depretion I always try to hurt my self, I was hateing my life, before my son came to this world all my sky were very cloudy. Those bad memories it seem to no matter any more since I saw that pregnancy test.

Now I have this little person to love, to give the best of me, breastfeed my son was more than feed him, it was pure love. I never felt that way before, his eyes looking at me with a thankfull expresion, everytime he smile at me with my nipple in his mouth it was a life saver therapy.

He change me, breastfeed him change me. I feel proud of me for never give up, for trust my body and my maternal instit. If I have to past all my bad experience in childhood to have him at the end I do it again.

I may be feel sad or depressed sometimes, life isn’t perfect. But when I looked at my son and start remember those days, his smell, oh how beautiful. Dosen’t exist any anti-depressed more efective than breastfeed my son. Is hard to put in words how our heart feels, but if someone ask me what its feel when I nurse my son I say ” I feel like my heart is trying to get out from my breast, as a milk”.

I breastfeed him for 24 months untill he wean him self, no body can take that away from me now, that beautiful picture is going to be with me until I say my last good bye. No body take never a picture of my son nursing in my peaceful arms, in my gentle breast. But I remember every little second, I no have it in my mind, I have it in my heart. Now I know what nature put our breast close to our heart.

Ten years past from those days, Lautaro is an amazing almost 10 years old now, very kind, always trying to help others. He is in 3 grade with a 6 grader level, very responsable with his school work.

His teacher just told me:”he is amazing, is a joy having him in my class, he is very polite and always volunteer to help his peers. He love you to dead, in one of his redactions he wrote how inportant you are for him, and how him wants to make you proud”. I was in tears when she told me that.

I can’t be more proud of him, and you can see it in my face. He is an awesome big brother, he care about his sibling so much, he teach them, and he always was there to help me, or just give me a glass of water when he saw me breastfeed his little sibling. Last week I was breastfeeding my 4 months old and Lautaro say ” Wow mama he is getting so big and he is so healthy because you give him your milk, you give me your milk too, good job!!! and by the way thanks mama”. you no have any idea how my heart start jumping in my chest to hear that from my son.

People can say, that teen moms, are iresponsable, they can say teen mom can’t finish high school , that they marriage fails, that their kids are bad behaved or fail school, they can say we are to young to take good care of our kids, even say that we can’t breastfeed.

Well I’m the proof that all this is wrong. I’m not saying “is easy” because is not, in fact is realy hard, now with my 4th son I’m a stay at home mom, I been married with a wonderful men for almost 8 years now, I own a home and Im just enjoing taking care of my kids full time.

Motherhood is not easy, not only for teen moms, for all new moms. But at the end we realize that we can do it and is the most rewarding career of our lifes.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Teen-and-Young-Mom/114956148591575

http://mylifeasateen-youngmom.blogspot.com/2011/06/it-was-january-1st-2001-after-celebrate.html?spref=fb
Noelia Valdez

Attitudes towards the role of a doula (questionnaire)

By Lisa Lactivist, on June 24th, 2011

Doulas are women specially trained to give emotional and practical support during pregnancy, labour, birth and the postnatal period – leading to more satisfying and empowered experiences, and a decrease in interventions, caesarean sections, postnatal depression and an increase in breastfeeding success.

This questionnaire has been designed to find out women’s views of support during labour, it takes about 10 minutes to fill in.

https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHlMWHFxbUtVQ1lOUUVOeXRWTzlBZlE6MQ

For more information about Doulas please see http://www.lactivist.net/?p=2223

Win a copy of Birth without Violence (ends 28th May 2011)

By Lisa Lactivist, on May 20th, 2011

“Dr. Frederick Leboyer was the first physician to challenge society’s deeply held beliefs about awareness in the newborn. His pioneering works on birthing, including “Birth Without Violence”, have forever revolutionized the course of prenatal care and the way babies are introduced to the world. He also pioneered introducing infant massage to the Western world.”

The publishers Pinter and Martin have given Lactivist a copy of Birth Without Violence to celebrate the re-launch of the book.

“Birth without Violence revolutionised the way we perceive the process of birth, urging us to consider birth from the infant’s point of view. Why must a child emerge from the quiet darkness of the womb into a blaze of blinding light and loud voices? Why must an infant take its first breath in terror, hanging upside down as its vulnerable spine is jerked straight? Why must the infant be separated from its mother after spending nine months inside her nourishing body?”

There is a chance to meet Frédérick Leboyer at the Pinter & Martin home/offices on the 28th May 2011. Mr Leboyer will read from his classic book and answer questions. The reading will be followed by drinks and a light buffet dinner and guest will have the opportunity to get books signed. The admission fee goes towards author’s fees and expenses.

In addition guests will be sent a voucher code to buy any Pinter & Martin book in stock at 33% off, including Birth without Violence.

Venue: Pinter & Martin, 6 Effra Parade, London SW2 1PS

Date: 28th May 2011

Time: 7pm – 9.30pm (reading expected to start at 7.30pm)

Advance booking essential. Tickets will not be on sale on the evening.

Nearest tube Brixton (Victoria Line) – 10 minutes walk, nearest rail Brixton & Herne Hill - 10 minutes walk, buses 3, 37, 196 stop outside (Effra Parade/Dalberg Road stop).

If you have any queries or would like to book over the telephone please call us on 020-7737 6868.

If you want to book online please visit www.pinterandmartin.com

This is an interview with Frédérick Leboyer in 2006. He is an amazing man with a vast expanse of knowledge – anyone who says ‘pregnancy is not a sickness’ gets the thumbs up in my book!

To win a copy of Birth without Violence just comment below with your top tip for a calm birth. Each tip gets you one entry and you can get extra entries for tweeting and sharing on Facebook, blogs and forums – please let me know how many entries you are claiming in your comment.

Comp ends on the 28th May 2011 and is only for people in Europe – sorry!

The winner will be drawn at random and notified by email.

30 Best Breastfeeding Moments from Lactivist Mums

By Lisa Lactivist, on May 1st, 2011

I asked what peoples best breastfeeding moments were on the Lactivist facebook page.

Here are the first 30 replies from mums with many different experiences of breastfeeding. From mums of many to mums of premature babies we have all experienced joy in breastfeeding and I wanted to preserve these memories. I hope the list makes you feel as happy as it made me feel.

Lisa

1. That one’s easy – despite having breastfed six babies! It was when my eldest was a baby. He finished his meal and was asleep, his head on my breast, one arm under and the other arm over. His expression said “I have everything I want in the world!”

2. Mine was when my son got milk drunk for the first time and just fell off the boob whilst drinking, I felt like I had done a very good mummy job.

3. When my boys come off after feed with a big contented sleepy smile on their faces. X

4. When my boys were about a year old and they would pull off, look at me, smile and then relatch. As if to say thank you!

5. Right now!! Lying In bed with my oldest being a pest, youngest on the boob but asleep and realising we’ve made it past the hardest part and have now been exclusively BF for 3 weeks

6. When my youngest looks at me with his big brown eyes and a smile when feeding! You cant beat

7. When J was tiny (0-3 months), he would come off the breast, make a huge effort to lift up his head, and plonk it down on top of my boob to sleep

8. The day my son finally took a full feed from me and ditched the cup feeds of my milk that he’d been having 3 weeks previously. I cried I was so happy. With my daughter it was when she finally twigged what to do on day 3.

9. The first time my little boy latched after 3 days of syringe feeding him!

10. Walking out of the hospital with my 10 day old ebf baby who has down syndrome after being told by a NICU nurse (nice lady ) that she had never seen it happen in 30 years she had worked there.

11. When I tandem feed my toddler and baby and they look into each others eyes and hold hands.

12. The day my littlest girl was allowed to be put to my breast after 7 days of being fed through a tube in special care! An how well she took to me finally ment she was nearly ok to come home x

13. Milky bobos – the nursing sessions where he falls asleep but carries on nursing right the way through – sometimes for over an hour – then wakes up and grins up at me

14. All of them xxx

15. When you make them giggle while on the boobie. Or when you FIRST feed them after birth. Or when they look into your eyes while boobin’. It’s all precious!

16. The 1st pain free feed after 1wk of mastitis followed by 1wk thrush! Bliss

17. When my 3 year old giggles and wiggles and grins with joy and delight with anticipation of imminent nursing…”Milkamilk” is her very favourite thing

18. L’s last feed by a beautiful Loch in Scotland.. x

19. When my baby was a few days old really struggled to bf and it was around 2.30 am he woke for a feed and looked up at me as if to say this is the best thing in the world and if it wasn’t for my sister I wouldn’t have carried on she was a brill support xxx

20. The first time she smiled at me with a mouthful of booby ♥ and I love every time she falls asleep with a mouthful of milk and it dribbles out the side of her mouth lol

21. My best moment….. Probably when little one was old enough to ask for it, shouting loudly BOOBY! but I have many many best moments….. Too many, as every feed is a best moment

22. Both of mine when they were really little would fall asleep but refuse to let go and would actually laugh in their sleep, don’t know if they were laughing about not letting go or just having a nice little dream but it was so cute!

23. The fact that I am exclusively bfing a premature baby

24. My son is so excited before a feed he grins, wiggles and kicks his legs…he loves it!

25. My son was born 5 weeks prematurely and went straight to NICU. When he was 4 days old I was giving him kangaroo care and to my surprise he began to root and latched on immediately. He’s almost 15 weeks old now and is on the 91st percentile for his corrected age and 50th for actual age

26. My daughter was 11 weeks early! She’s 15 weeks on Saturday, born 22nd Jan and we are exclusively bfing too

27. My favourite moment (although there are many) is when you are watching them grow when they are EBF and knowing that it’s all down to you. My second put on a pound a week for a month after birth!

28. First, newborn feeds. First tandem feeds and now my youngest is 23 months I love when he giggles in excited anticipation of getting “boo-boo”. ♥

29. When my baby looks up into my eyes whilst feeding, nothing else like it

30. When my 9month old baby girl nurses to sleep and pulls off with a sigh of satisfaction. Milk dribbling down her cheek:) and i also find it sweet when she crawls over to me urgently, smiling and fussing in anticipation for her nummies!

The hat pictured at the top is a KnittyTit hat and they are available from www.lactivist.co.uk along site a range of pro breastfeeding t-shirts, bags, badges, stickers and cards. The picture above is of my son having his dinner.

Lisa

50 tips for breastfeeding in public

By Lisa Lactivist, on April 28th, 2011

This list is from the lovely ladies who frequent the Lactivist Facebook Group. The list is incredible, there are loads of great ideas and some brilliant support and advice – if you want to add to the list just leave a comment.

1. Practice in front of a mirror. you’ll be surprised at how little actually shows

2. Take it slowly, start somewhere you will feel more comfortable such as a corner table in a cafe, wear a poncho if needs be, this hides everything so you don’t feel too exposed. Helps if you are with someone as well, moral support and someone to talk too.

3. Wait a few weeks before trying it…. so that you and LO get the hang of what is going on. Also there is no shame in using a blanket to start off if it makes you more comfortable.

4. Patience and confidence. Bring along a friend or family member for support x

5. Tuck a muslin square into the bra strap at the top also the more you do it the easier it gets and the more people do it the more normal it will be for people to see x

6. Wear a vest under your top, lift your top and lower your vest, keeps your middle covered up. Also I had a very supportive sister or husband in tow the first few times I fed in public, and they were armed with answers if I was questioned, I never received any negative comments at all, only knowing smiles and nods ;0)

7. Try to be part of a group – even if it’s just 1 friend to talk to while you nurse you’ll be distracted and not notice whether strangers are looking or not.

8. Go along to breastfeeding groups being around other women b/f can be empowering,

9. Go Somewhere you don’t usually whip em
Out do the deed and laugh it off. You will never meet these people again x

10. Take someone you trust with you for moral support. And like a pp has said, practice in front of a mirror.

11. Sit in front of a mirror and nurse as you would in public. Have a good look and you’ll notice just how little people can actually see and how nice it looks. I would def say go along to a BF group too

12. Get a weighted (in one corner) blanket and remember how clever and amazing you are!! I loved feeding in public just as much as I did quietly at home, don’t let anyone take that special feeling away from you x

13. Sit in front of a mirror. You’ll be surprised how very little is on show. Looking down at baby and a huge boob (what you see) is not what others see. A breastfeeding mother in society is not only saying ‘ I am doing something normal’ she is leading the way for others. The more boobie feeding mothers we see out there. The more who will follow.

14. Whenever I feed I look at my baby or something else I don’t look for people looking at me therefore have no idea if anyone does! Don’t look like you want to be noticed and you’ll be fine!

15. I second using a muslin in the bra strap or wearing a vest under your normal top. Nursing in a sling is a great way of covering up and keeping baby close.
Most of all just keep reminding yourself that you are feeding your baby and its the most natural and beautiful thing in the world:0)

16. I was worried about this too especially being overweight but once my little one cried instinct took over and I didn’t even think about the public the first time was in a busy shopping centre second on bus and third in Mcdonalds lol not once did I care and once you have done it a few times you just don’t notice anyone

17. I tucked the corner of a muslin square under my bra strap whilst latching on in the early weeks but my daughter hated anything being over her head or obstructing her view so much that she’d flash me so I just popped her on as fast as I could and sat back and drank my drink, I used to keep a magazine in her changing bag for the long feeds so I had something to do!

18. B a really big pashmina =)

19. I used to place my changing bag on the table in front of me if I was feeding in a cafe as it shielded me a little. My Mum/Dad/partner would ask me where they should sit/where I felt most comfortable sitting when feeding. Once the baby is latched on you really can’t see anything. The worst bit is latching them on when they are screaming hungry and attracting attention!

20. Try it somewhere public that you feel secure first. Like a baby cafe or your favorite coffee place. Or somewhere quiet but public, like a library?

21. Watch, ‘Is breast best’, until I watched this programme I used to hide in corners and cupboards to feed, now I sit in the middle of the shopping centre with PRIDE!!

22. I find that acting confident (even if I don’t feel it) and focusing on my LO whilst getting her latched on and just blocking everything else out helps, as does clothes selection, a nice light baggy top to lift up and hide your breast and as… Vicky says a vest to cover your tummy (although I find my baby is big enough now to hide my belly now), can help. After you’ve done it a few times though it gets easier. Although theres nothing wrong with going to a feeding room, I feel as if I’m missing out on whats going on or being hidden away if I do so in that sense actually feel more comfortable nursing in public. Have a cloth/tissue to hand for when they pull off and leave you spraying! (Learn to laugh at this, it happens to us all!)

23. Invest in a good nursing top and wear it when you know your going to have to feed out and about. Really easy then to feed and not have to faff about x

24. I was also more worried about my tummy showing than my boob! I had some stretchy cotton bump bands that I got when pregnant and I found they doubled great as midriff-concealers. Failing that- really stretchy vests under tshirts. Also, practice opening and closing your nursing bra with one hand. I preferred to reach through my neckline for unclipping, then underneath hem for pulling down. Lastly, I liked to have something at the side of me as she was forever letting go to have a peep over my arm!

25. Definitely wear a vest or my personal favourite, a bump band, under your top so you can keep your tum covered. Try it at a baby group or bf group until you feel more confident. Also, don’t expect people to actually notice lol, to most it will look like you’re just cuddling In 9 months of feeding all over the place I’ve never had a single comment about it

26. I have 2 words, boob tube. I bought a load of cheap boob tubes from Primark for £1 as a cheaper alternative to the bump bands. You can wear them under any top too.

27. Just thought of another, the park is a great place to practice. Take a picnic rug or find a little bench and nurse to your hearts content without drawing much attention

28. Join a local support (or as we call ourselves gossip) group helps build confidence. If you are in the UK check out Sure Start they often have a group.

29. Some groups meet in coffee places feeding with other Mums helps, NCT in High Wycombe, Bucks and Boston Lincs both do (or did) meet in a cafe.

30. Look for Breastfeeding is welcome signs. Breastfeeding is legal anywhere in the UK but good to know someone has thought about it Old signs are blue http://rlv.zcache.com/bficon_med_breastfeeding_welcome_here_sticker-p217051600898625487q0ou_400.jpg
new are pink http://www.nct.org.uk/_uploads/imgpool/breastfeeding-welcome-sticker.jpg

31. Do what comes natural. The more you twist and turn and mess with big bulky blankets and faff about, the more hassle for you an the more you draw attention to yourself. Chances are baby will latch on and nobody will even know x

32. Remember that the majority of people won’t realise what your doing. They just think your giving baby a hug. Those that do realise are unlikely to stare and will mostly turn away.

33. If you feel comfortable bearing your breast in public, you should! I think its good to desexualize it so people understand that its not a taboo. Or at least it shouldn’t be. On the other hand, you should never do something that makes you uncomfortable, and you shouldn’t let people make you feel bad for being uncomfortable with nursing in public. The decision is yours.

34. I do the vest under a top trick but most comfortable is a stretchy low cut top (for me) and you see absolutley nothing and when your done you just pop it back up again. Have to also say one of the biggest surprises came when I had to go Kwi…k-Fit whilst out and a flat tyre and had to wait for my size to come from another garage and my baby had to be fed last summer. The guy behind the counter was looking at me and after he finished with a customer came over with a glass of water and said “I’m told it’s thirsty work!” He then went on to say it was a good job I wasn’t bottle feeding our else I’d have been stuck with no milk for the baby since I was caught unawares and to give him a shout if I needed anything so remember just because someone looks at you it might not be because they disapprove!

35. Find a quiet corner where you feel comfortable if you feel relaxed, sheltered and protected chances are you baby will too and will just get on with it, and no one will notice (unless they are or were a breastfeeder) If you are uncomfortable… babies are so tuned into you they will fuss.

36. Have in your head what you will say if some idiot says anything chances are they wont, If someone stares smile at them sweetly and ask if they are looking for someone (chances are they will blush and run)

37. I spent hours waiting for someone to to suggest I feed in the loo to feed had all the right answers lined up and no one ever did. I have only ever had positive responses including when I feed in church. The only time I ever had a problem was the first time and my daughter was 2 weeks old tried to use a shawl and my daughter would have none of it and screamed. Never fell for that one again shawl went just make sure I always wear a top which will cover her and me now LOL

38. I second practicing in front of a mirror – and if you need to use a cover, DO. Or try wearing two tops so you can drop one and lift one and not show anything. Good luck – as with most things, practice makes perfect!

39. Remember that more people have breastfed than you think! When I find myself looking at mums breastfeeding now its because I’m either thinking “Yey! You go girlfriend!” or “Oh wow that is just wonderful!” Less people will notice than you think, and those that do know are probably reminiscing about the same precious times with their baby.

40. I remember sitting next to my sisters boyfriend feeding and he sat there talking to me and stroking my sons head it was a good 10 mins before he noticed what was happening. After that I fed anywhere and everywhere, it made me realise that if he couldn’t tell when he was that close then people walking by weren’t likely to notice. I think it’s more what’s in our head as others walking along aren’t going to be on the look out for feeding mums and boobs.

41. Muslin squares are a godsend. Tuck a corner under your bra strap and cover yourself and baby with the rest then throw over your shoulder to wind the baby!! Its also surprising how few people even become aware that you are feeding!! Other than that just do what feels comfortable and natural to you, if you don’t like it you don’t have to do it! There are no rules to breastfeeding

42. I didnt go out until I had the hang of latching on but I also had a breastfeeding butterfly which was great during those first weeks x

43. I wear a vest under a top or use a muslin to cover my boob. I am more shy about flashing my flabby tummy than my boobs lol

44. My sis in law MADE an apron type feeding bib. It just goes around your neck, slip baby under and u can see down to check their ok. It a brilliant idea perfect for feeding out. Funny tho, people do a double take when I lift him after. Were’d he come from lol. Saves a lot of akwardness! She’s a genius! x

45. For me it was the sagging post baby belly getting drafty that ended up being my mare but I got rootitooti tops and they were amazing. a vest top with boob holes! that and a shawl/pashmini in the early days to cover whilst latching on then I would let the scarf slide off once LO latched on. Having bigger breasts I always needed 2 hands to bf. one for LO and 1 for boob so not having to worry about everything else was a real relief.

46. Loose clothing and a cafe which publically supports bfing. Local bfing groups can tell u which ones they have found supportive

47. If your worried about your tummy showing buy some cheap vests to wear under your t-shirt and cut a slit in them where your boob is….much cheaper than breast feeding tops. Also don’t worry, just do what you do at home, People usually think your giving the little one a cuddle X

48. Wear a vest under normal tops- one up one down (I get stretchy pyjama top vests from primark for about £1.50), park yourself at the back of a coffee shop, wear a scarf and drape it over you both if your LO is particularly nosy (like mine!)…. I agree with Melanie that most people just think you’re having a cuddle anyway- I’ve had lots of people come up to us and speak without realising, I even had one woman try to get a good look at the baby before she realised! lol. Don’t make eye contact with people and they won’t look at you anyway. See more

49. When I first started feeding my LO I marvelled at other women feeding in public, they all seemed so discreet! Try as I might I couldn’t feed subtly, it took weeks before I felt comfortable enough to NIP. I started off round friends houses, then support groups and coffee shops. Now I’ll feed anywhere, but my LO is very impatient and won’t wait for me to find a feeding room lol. I figure that people would rather risk seeing a flash of my boob than listen to my baby wail. Take your time, there is no rush.

50. I try to think of it as my public duty rather than something to be embarrassed about it is something I am doing to help educate the next generation and normalize the behavior for others who may feel embarrassed or are just not used to seeing it.

The pictures on this page are of badges and magnets from www.lactivist.co.uk, the home of funky slogan t-shirts, bags, postcards, stickers and more that promote breastfeeding.

61 tips for a successful breastfeeding relationship

By Lisa Lactivist, on April 27th, 2011

This amazing list is from the Lactivist Facebook page – if you can think of anything else you would like to add please just add a comment, it would be great to make it up to 100!

1. Mummy baby cuddle time and a partner who understands…

2. Support (but determination is right up there too)

3. Determination and drive

4. Frequent feeding is what you WANT your baby to do!!

5. Ask for help from a breastfeeding consultant if you’re having any wobbles. They are worth their weight in gold.

6. Confidence in your bodies ability to nourish your baby

7. Throw away formula samples.

8. Relax…..don’t let what anyone else thinks about breast feeding bother you…enjoy! They don’t stay babies long enough

9. ASK ASK ASK ASK ASK MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOSPITAL (IF YOU GO HOSPITAL)

10. Determination & confidence in your own body and its abilities an understanding/supportive partner is a godsend too!

11. Allowing proper time to establish, realizing the necessity of those many early hours (in the early hours!) on the couch with pillows, lansinoh, good books and chocolate…..obviously

12. Forgot about putting your baby on any kind of feeding schedule and just feed on demand!

13. Know where to get the help from in case you have any questions or problems and don’t buy bottles in ‘just in case’.

14. Having an educational support system built up!

15. Give it time, very few things worth doing come easily. Breastfeeding is natural but so is having a few teething troubles and it is worth the effort.

16. Never give up!

17. If in doubt breastfeed and when in doubt, ask for help!

18. Listen to your gut because you are more likely right.

19. From a male point of view, to have a partner who is determined to succeed through thick and thin, when mastitis kicks in, when the little one wants feeding constantly day and night, to have the confidence to feed in public, and give the little one the best start in life they possibly can!! Oh and a supportive husband/boyfriend and family!!!!! You all do a fantastic job and my wife has been amazing in feeding our little boy and still is at 16 months!

20. Push through the first 6 weeks AND read/watch/listen about BFing as much as you can BEFORE baby is here. =]

21. Skin to skin x

22. Feed on demand, co-sleep and ignore idiots

23. Be with your baby. Seems obvious, but so many mom’s are being pulled away, or are anxious to get their life back, and don’t realize that it is sabotaging the bfing relationship!

24. Determination and support most definitely

25. Determination – in the first weeks anyway. The first 2 weeks were a nightmare for me – I got through mastitis, severe pain but kept going because I was DETERMINED to provide my son with what he needed. Here I am 3 and a half years later still going strong

26. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and find out where the help is before you need it!

27. Making your mind up that you WILL breastfeed! I have a petite baby girl that was slow gaining weight. Everyone kept saying “if you have to supplement its ok…” but it wasn’t’ ok with me! Thank God I had a Pediatrician never told me I needed to do anything but keep feeding as frequently as she wanted it. She’s 13 months old now she’s starting self-led weaning and I’m proud to say she’s NEVER had formula!

28. Surrender to your baby in the early days. Accept that breastfeeding is a commitment and relax into it as much as you can. They are only babies for a little while.

29. Lansinoh, chill out, ignore weight growth charts just be aware of weight loss, baby feeds on demand not timed, not in a toilet unless your bursting and its your choice, no one else matters but that wee bubba needs you, your body will be the size it needs to to feed your child so don’t give a damn about losing weight or training we store the necessary things the milk needs, enjoy it while it lasts x

30. Be prepared to be feeding A LOT and see that as a good thing to be enjoyed! Ah all those lovely cuddles!

31. Truly believing you are doing THE best thing you possibly could to give your LO the best start in life.

32. Feeding on demand. Don’t worry about how frequent it is, just give ‘em the boob. Sometimes it was every half hour, sometimes baby’d go for 4 or 5 hours. BF Health Visitor told me if they’re weeing, pooing, gaining weight and sleeping (a little!), then they’re doing good.

33. This is from my husband; “Just keep going, just keep feeding, no matter how long it takes, just keep going because you are giving your baby the best.” He watched me express and cup feed our 2nd child for 3 weeks solid before he re-latched.

34. keep going is the biggest one, 3b and 3bf baby was the only one that I got cracked sore and bleeding but I fed through the discomfort and here she is 1yr on and still bf x

35. Keep it up ladies. When our children have children we will be there to give the help and support they really need and we can pass our experience on to them. Something a lot of us never got from our mothers. Bfing will hopefully be the norm …in the next couple of generations. Be determined but don’t beat yourself up if u don’t get it right straight away. Mother and baby have to learn to feed. I have 5 kids and found it difficult with all of them to begin with in different ways but I knew that it would get easier in a couple of weeks. BREAST IS BEST. See more

36. Absolute commitment

37. Forget everything you have been told and use your instincts!! )

38. Co-sleeping!

39. Throw away your expectations and go with the flow (pun intended). Take up offers of support, we all have insecurities and there will always be people to play on our worries. Have confidence in yourself and your bodies ability to provide what your child needs. Remember weight loss at first is normal no matter what your feeding choice and that with exclusive bf’ing your baby will grow in their natural way. Let your baby feed for as long as they want as often as they want and enjoy the enforced rest. Don’t expect it to be easy, especially at first! Listen to your baby and your body and marvel at how in sync they become. The first few weeks of motherhood are so hard, allow yourself to cry and no matter what others may say, formula is not the easy option, once you get through those first few weeks and you and your baby become more confident, competent breastfeeders you’ll be so glad you stuck at it! Enjoy, you are doing a wonderful thing for your baby.

40. Feed, feed, feed…… And feed again!!!

41. Use your peers.

42. Relax! Physically and mentally. Get really comfy, enjoy all the cuddles and try not to stress about how much/little baby is feeding.

43. It’s so easy to listen to everyone around you saying “just give them a bottle, you were bottle fed and you’re fine”. Like what Lactivist said above, it can be hard in the beginning but longer term, bottle feeding can be just as hard. It gets …so much easier as you go along and is a really good excuse to sit on your butt I think most of us breastfeeding mama’s would all say the same thing, Enjoy it! Our babies are only babies once.

44. Don’t expect your midwife (wives) to be pro-breastfeeding. I got very little support from my community team and was asked if I was breastfeeding ‘because I wanted to or because I thought I should and if it was the latter to just put him on the bottle!’ I got support from a good friend and a cousin who had both bf their children and would really recommend having an experience breast feeder who you can ring or e mail whenever you have a question or just need a chat. My two got me through the hellish first week and over a year later my son and I have never looked back.

45. I’ve always said I breastfeed because I’m too lazy to bottlefeed!

46. Nurse on demand, wherever you are; bed, grocery shopping, relative’s house. I still love nighttime nursing with my 2 y/o:-)

47. Support and determination. Formula is NOT an option attitude!

48. Skin to Skin. Helps in so many ways, increasing milk, relaxing both you and baby, builds confidence, puts baby in best place to get at breast.

It is not always easy, it can take work, keep trying, get experienced support, if you want to breastfeed don’t let people pressure you into giving that one bottle. I am UNCEF trained and supported more Mums to breastfeed I knew it was not always easy and thankfully knew ways around problems and was able to fight for what I wanted (ok read that as bloody minded), I still cried buckets when my daughter would not feed (she sadly was not UNICEF trained and did not know what I wanted her to do LOL), Doctors still knocked my confidence and made me feel neglectful (basically see you up on special care then) although I made a evidenced based plan as I would when I worked on a NICU which worked.
My daughter will be 3 on 1st July and never expected to say she is still very much breastfeeding mainly at night but also if unwell and god it fells so good to still be able to satisfy her needs and now also calm the raging toddler. And yep I too breastfeed because I am too bloody lazy to do all the crap that comes with bottle feeding.

49. Plenty of skin to skin at birth. I put all our success down those first vital hours of my little girls life.

50. Books can’t tell you when your baby is hungry, only baby can! Follow your baby’s lead, ask for support if you need it, if you’re struggling always remember ‘this will soon pass, it will get easier’ Going in with the utter determination that you WILL breastfeed and that nothing is gonna stop you!

51. Trust your own body!

52. Perseverance and find your local bf support group/bf cafe

53. Self belief and not listening to those who tell you otherwise

54. Be determined, double check everything healthcare professionals tell you on kellymom, feed on demand. Remember you are doing the best thing for your baby- providing a service that only you can- be empowered by that! x

55. Have a partner well-informed and determined as you – so he will happily cook meals after his long day at work, do the housework, go shopping, bring you snacks/drinks – say ‘I will do this you sit down and feed him – that’s your most important job’ have him (dp turn to you ‘and say you are doing a marvelous job, you’re brilliant, you’re beautiful’ in short have the back up support you need – it is a hard hard job if you are trying to breastfeed AND cook, clean shop etc

56. Feed on demand and lots of love.

57. If nipples become sore use nipple shields until they recover.

58. Trust your motherly Instinct, surround yourself with positive people and breastfeeding mummies…and don’t make rash decisions at ‘low’ times XX

59. Have faith in your boobs and have faith in your baby

60. Remember both you and baby have to learn this new skill, that can take time-persevere.

61. Go to bfing groups. support when u need it

All the photos on this page are of t-shirts from www.lactivist.co.uk

Tandem Breastfeeding Support Groups?

By Lisa Lactivist, on March 22nd, 2011

Does anyone know of any Tandem support groups?

I’ve had a request for one near Wiltshire or online but if you want to use Lactivist.net as a place to list them that would be great – more people would be able to find them.

Lisa

I’ve been googling and came up with a few websites – the first is the ever brilliant Kellymom – http://www.kellymom.com/bf/tandem/
which has a list of online groups -

Online Support

Pregnant & Nursing Message Board at ParentsPlace.com

Tandem Nursing Message Board at ParentsPlace.com

Extended Breastfeeding Forum at Mothering.com

Yahoo!Groups has groups whose focus is tandem nursing and nursing during pregnancy

I suspect they might all be American but it is a start.

Yes, you can return to work AND continue to breastfeed.

By Dispelling Breastfeeding Myths, on November 16th, 2010

Some of us work to live, and others live to work. Work is just a fact of life for most of us. Unless you’re really lucky one of the bridges you’ll eventually have to cross once you’ve established breastfeeding is the management of your return to work.

Although the formula manufacturers would like you to think you need to combine feed at this point, it’s really not necessary! But you need to know how to work the system and demand your rights.

If you don’t want to stop breastfeeding (and many of us find we really do not) but are worried about your return to work, this post is for you.

If you live in the UK your right to continue to breastfeed is protected by law. There is no ‘time limit’ put on it – you are protected whether your baby is 6 months, or 6 years old. You might have your own time limit in mind, but if you do let that be decided by you and your child and not by anything else.

Perhaps surprisingly in Northern Ireland (where we have the lowest breastfeeding rates in the whole UK), we have some of the tightest regulations when it comes to breastfeeding rights in the workplace. Presumably this is because of our appalling record on human rights and the subsequent tightening up of the discrimination laws here. However, wherever you live in the UK your breastfeeding rights are protected by Health and Safety law.

In order to ensure your employer understands their legal obligations there are procedures you will need to ask them to follow.

1/ You must inform them in writing before you return to work that you intend to continue breastfeeding. Because you are a breastfeeding mother and this raises additional Health and Safety questions, they are required to carry out a Health and Safety Assessment.
(This might sound a bit OTT but if, for example, your work involved dealing with chemicals or infection risks then you can see why it becomes relevant). You can include a letter from your GP or midwife in your risk assessment.

2/ If risks are identifed then your employers are required either to remove the risk (by adjusting your working environment to allow you to continue to work), or, where suitable, reassign you (with the same terms and conditions). If neither of these things are possible then they must suspend you (with pay) for as long as is necessary to protect you and your child from the risk.

3/ Your employer must provide you with a space in which to rest (and in NI express milk) but they are not legally obliged to provide you with a fridge/ storage facility for any expressed breastmilk. Many people find that a cool bag is sufficient to allow them to keep milk cold until they get home. The rest space must not be a toilet.

4/ Employers are not legally obliged to have a ‘breastfeeding policy’ of their own but many do. This can include things like information about rest-breaks, & milk storage facilities etc. If your employer does not have one yet, by approaching them and discussing your situation you may find they decide to implement such a policy. This would be a great service to other mothers coming after you.

But what’s in it for them?
How can you convince your employer to make it work for you?

Tell them why it makes good business sense.

Breastfed babies are sick less often. This means parents take less time off to look after them. A study done in 1995 showed that mums of formula fed babies take twice as many one-day absences as breastfeeding mums do. (Cohen R, Mrtek MB &; Mrtek RG; American Journal of Health Promotion, 10 (2), 148-153.)
Employees who feel valued and supported are more productive and report higher morale than those who are not. Supportive breastfeeding policies ease a mother’s return to work and enable a breastfeeding mother to return sooner than she otherwise might. (Galtry J. (1997). Lactation and the labor market)
An earlier return to work by a satisfied employee reduces the costs of recruting, hiring, and training temporary staff. If the company is a small one and the position has not been covered, other staff are likely to experience greater stress affecting their productivity, morale and health the longer the employee is off work.
Family-friendly policies in the workplace improve a companies public image and this has a positive effect on recruitment.
Lactating mothers report lower levels of stress (Mezzacappa ES, Katlin ES Health Psychol. 2002 Mar;21(2):187-93). Stress is thought to supress the immune system making you more succeptible to illness.

What else can you do?

If you’re in a union, you can request their help in approaching your employers. If you’re not, you might consider joining one.
Prior to returning to work begin to express and store breastmilk to give to your child.
Find childcare close to your work so you can breastfeed just before work and just after.
Work out how you will provide your baby with breastmilk when you’re not around – if they’re unable to use a cup, you might need to get them used to using a bottle. This website has good advice about doing this.
Consider in advance how you will express and store milk at work.
Explain to your employer that you need to be able to express milk in privacy during your rest breaks. In NI this is already a legal requirement. Although in other parts of the UK it is not yet a legal requirement, it is considered ‘best practice’ by the Health and Safety Executive (see links below). You can also argue that your employer is putting you at increased risk of blocked ducts and mastitis if they do not provide you with this facility. A toilet is not considered a suitable facility.
If your employer doesn’t understand that nursing mothers need rest breaks, explain to them that breastfeeding burns up to 500 calories per day. Other examples of ways to burn 500 calories include the following: 1 hour of rowing, 1 hour of running up stairs, 1 hour of cycling, 1 hour of rock climbing.
Remember that if your employer is unhelpful and seems to be forcing you to curtail or end your breastfeeding then they are putting you at an increased risk of some illnesses including breast and ovarian cancer, as well as osteporosis. They are also putting your child at increased risk of illness whatever their age. The longer you breastfeed, the lower the risks to you and to your child.
If you do not feel that your employer is being sympathetic there are a number of things you can do. 1/ speak to your human resources department or union; 2/ contact your occupational health department (if you have one); 3/ contact the Health and Safety Executive; 4/ contact one of the other organisations listed below; 5/ discuss your situation with an employment lawyer.

Most employers will see the good sense in supporting your desire to breastfeed. Some will be less helpful! However, they are legally obliged to carry out a risk assessment and act upon it, and they must provide you with a suitable rest area.

You might feel intimidated if you’re the first person in your workplace to approach your employer about breastfeeding rights at work. It is understandable to be anxious about this, but remember – the law is there to protect you.

In order to normalise breastfeeding for our sons and daughters we all need to play our part in breaking down these barriers and demanding our rights at work.

Useful links:

http://www.breastfeeding.nhs.uk/en/materialforclients/downloads/leaflet_4.pdf

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg373.pdf

http://www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk/Resources/breastfeeding/pdfs/returntowork.pdf (NI)

http://www.equalityhumanrights.com/

http://milkmatters.org.uk/services-offered/employers/

http://www.equalities.gov.uk/

www.hseni.gov.uk

http://www.breastandbottlefeeding.com/

www.cellhealthmakeover.com/burn500.html

Useful addresses:

HSE Information Services
Caerphilly Business Park
Caerphilly
CF83 3GG

Infoline: 0845 345 0055
Fax: 0845 408 9566
Textphone: 0845 408 9577
e-mail: hse.infoline@natbrit.com
Website: www.hse.gov.uk

Department for Work and Pensions
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk

Department for Business Enterprise and Regulatory Reform
Enquiry Unit: 020 7215 5000
Fax: 020 7215 0105
Textphone: 020 7215 6740
Website: www.berr.gov.uk

Equality and Human Rights Commission
Helplines: 0845 604 6610 (England) 0845 604 5510 (Scotland)
0845 604 8810 (Wales)
Website: www.equalityhumanrights.com

Maternity Action
The Grayston Centre
28 Charles Square
London N1 6HT
Tel: 020 7324 4740
Website: www.maternityaction.org.uk

Tommy’s, the Baby Charity
Nicholas House
3 Laurence Pountney Hill
London
EC4R 0BB

Tel: 0870 777 7676
Fax: 0870 770 7075
e-mail: mailbox@tommys.org
Website: www.tommys.org

(Article originally posted at www.mythnomore.blogspot.com )

Breastfeeding in Public – Poll

By Lisa Lactivist, on November 16th, 2010

When I first started to breastfeed in public I did feel nervous, mostly, as an unconfident new mum because I thought someone would want to tell me how to do it properly. As my son got older I got a lot more comfortable and breastfed without thinking about it, and without being detected in all sorts of odd places, on the escalator in Ikea being one I can remember!

Id love to hear how you feel about it.

Lisa

It’s not too late to relactate & reconnect (Natural Mama NZ)

By Lisa Lactivist, on November 14th, 2010

This is a post from the Natural Mama website written by Cherie Raymond – http://naturalmamanz.blogspot.com which is stuffed full of useful information. I found out about Natural Mama NZ when Cherie emailed me to ask if she could use some Lactivist images for her collection.

This article in particular is witten from the heart and is about breastfeeding an older baby after a gap of 3 months.

“There is no nutritional value in breastfeeding past the age of 12 months”. Not only is this statement wrong (breastmilk has fantastic nutritional value for anyone who consumes it), it also implies there is no reason to breastfeed your child past the age of 12 months, which couldn’t be further from the truth (the immunological benefits are vital to a child as their immune system does not fully develop until the age of six).

When I first heard the above statement, I didn’t know any different, like so many other mums. I’d done a small amount of reading on the subject of breastfeeding, but it seemed “why breastfeed if it’s no longer convenient, and there’s perfectly good formula as a substitute”. After all, aren’t these the perks of a modern feminist culture, we don’t have to breastfeed, we have all sorts of inventions to give us time to do other things? I even had an incredibly involved partner who was eagerly willing to take over parenting jobs whenever I wished.

Jamie, newborn in the hospital

Yet as easy as I had it, it all seemed to backfire; the connection with my child dwindled, and I was diagnosed with post-natal depression. Though it happened so subtly, each day more formula instead of breastmilk, more time with other carers, and eventually I felt like a stranger to my child. I’d completely weaned him from the breast, and between daycare, and family members eager to care for him, I was barely spending any time with him anymore.

I loved my little boy dearly, but I wasn’t ‘in charge’ as a parent. I put everyone else’s opinions regarding my parenting above my own. I didn’t trust my own instincts, desires and opinions, I honestly thought everyone else knew better, so I just did what everyone else told me to do. And before I knew it the motherhood I dreamed of since I was a child and had finally achieved, slipped from my fingers.

Jamie, 2 months old

My journey out of post-natal depression and becoming ‘in charge’ as a parent started with a lot of research about parenting. I learnt formula is in no way ‘equal’ to breastmilk, the main point being it lacks the immunological benefits of breastmilk, protecting children against many illnesses and improving brain function. The skin to skin contact also helps maintain the bond between mother and child.

Things really took off when I joined in discussions with other mothers online. I heard from mothers and websites that were living and promoting my mothering dream – babywearing, co-sleeping, breastfeeding well beyond 12 months, healthy vegetarian diets, non-vaccination, gentle guidance as apposed to punishment. This was the encouragement I needed; no, my parenting ideals weren’t abnormal, mothers all over the world were parenting in the same way my instincts always veered towards. The support I had may have only been from strangers online, but it was enough to give me the strength to take back my relationship with my son.

After completely weaning my son at 12 months, I allowed him, now 15 months, to suckle again whenever he felt inclined, and slowly built up a steady milk supply. I looked after my son almost entirely on my own; I didn’t want anyone else to look after him anymore, I wanted to enjoy him, as was always the plan, and my motherhood dream.

This winter I have felt such pride. My boy, now 20 months, has never had any sickness past a runny nose. I have watched friends around me with their little ones continually sick, taking trips to the doctor and even hospital. I attribute my son’s health entirely to his daily intake of breastmilk, and the unrivalled immunological properties it contains.

Alex (my older son) holding Jamie

When I hear statements like “there is no nutritional value in breastfeeding past the age of 12 months”, I am now educated and strong enough to stand up for myself; I don’t rely on another persons judgment when it comes to the welfare of my children, and beyond any opinion I will always trust my gut.

My lesson was I must trust myself as a mother, stand up for myself in the face of opposition, and never feel guilty about putting my love for my child above anyone or anything else. There is so much parenting advice available it is mind boggling. The most important advice I can personally give is to let your love for your child be your guide to parenting, it will always steer you in the right direction.

http://naturalmamanz.blogspot.com/search/label/Relactating

Support UK Midwives Petition

By Lisa Lactivist, on November 3rd, 2010

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/ukmw/

Demoralised, powerless, overworked, scared and ignored……. Five words one should never need to hear from Midwives.

So why is it that more and more Midwives in the UK are feeling this way?

In the UK the role of the Midwife is being stretched to such an alarming length that many feel something soon will snap and none of them want it to be on their shift! Valuable, experienced and amazingly talented midwives are leaving the profession because they feel they are treading a very fine line between life and death.

This isn’t an over dramatisation of facts this is how the system is currently….. and yes we mean currently in 2010 not 1810!!

Midwives expected to care for more labouring mothers than is recommended, Midwives working past their salaried shifts, Babies and Mothers left unchecked because there simply isn’t anyone to check them, basic human needs such as refreshment and comfort breaks are being scrapped because quite simply…. if the Midwife leaves to have her break there would be no one to care for the Mothers & Babies!

The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) estimates that an extra 5,000 midwives are needed in England alone simply to offer a basic standard of care.

“If it is a system failure then if anything goes wrong the Midwife will be covered”

Not according to The Nursing and Midwifery Council [NMC] code which says:

As a professional, you are personally accountable for actions and omissions in your practice and must always be able to justify your decisions.

Anyone that has tried to blame the system will know… it isn’t easy.

“So tell someone up top!”

Indeed… it also states in the NMC: You must inform someone in authority if you experience problems that
prevent you working within this code or other nationally agreed standards. You must report your concerns in writing if problems in the environment of care are putting people at risk

This has been done by countless Midwives and it is apparent that no action is being taken to improve things.

“Why don’t they go on strike?”

Well that would be a start, that would be one way of bringing the public awareness to a slippery slope situation. But here’s the spanner in that work…. Midwives are not permitted to strike or rather they are but arebound by their duty of care codes.. see NMC code reference above!

“OK so how can we help?”

Sign this petition to show that you would like to see a major overhaul of the Maternity Care System especially the working conditions, patient safety and rights of the Midwife.
Also in the comments please let us know if you would be willing to take part in a peaceful protest in London next year.

The UK Maternity System needs reviewing urgently to ensure the safety of Mothers and Babies.

Lactivist needs your top breastfeeding tips

By Lisa Lactivist, on October 20th, 2010

I’m hoping to do some leaflets with top breastfeeding tips on but I need your help!

New breastfeeding mums often worry about milk supply, have you got any tips that helped you? I know that oats are supposed to increase supply which is a great excuse for flapjack! And I know that a lot of people worry during a growth spurt because they think their milk is running out, when actually it is just changing in nutritional value.

What would you have liked to have known when you first started breastfeeding?

My very top tip is to position bottles of water near where you might settle down to breastfeed. I always forgot and as soon as my son latched on I got really thirsty!

Lisa

Misinformed Midwives or Fantastic Advice?

By Lisa Lactivist, on October 18th, 2010

I was talking to a vegan friend last night and she said that when she was pregnant she got loads of hassle from the midwives who told her that children should not be brought up to be vegan. She has 2 very healthy and fit vegan children now .

One of the worst bits of nonsense I heard was from a midwife too. She asked me what I had for tea the night before, I said ‘steak’ she said ‘I knew it, all vegetarians eat meat when they are pregnant’. I was gobsmacked! For a start I have never been a vegetarian though people assume I am so I must look like one (!), secondly, what a load of nonsense, all pregnant vegetarians do not eat meat.

Anyway, please share your worst bit of advice or nugget of mis information from midwives with us here. And also, if you have had any fantastic advice from a midwife it would be lovely to balance it out.

Lisa

Doula need a helping hand

By Lisa Lactivist, on October 10th, 2010

Hi, I’m Sam. I am an experienced mum of four children based in Worthing, West Sussex so cover Worthing Hospital as well as the surrounding areas for home births and postnatal support.

I am a Nurturing Birth trained birth and postnatal doula so I’m happy to offer information and support with pregnancy, birth and the first few months after birth as well. I have experience with home and hospital births, as well as breast and bottle feeding.

Research has shown that having a doula present at a birth:

* Shortens first-time labour by an average of 2 hours
* Decreases the chance of caesarean section by 50%
* Decreases the need for pain medication
* Helps fathers participate with confidence
* Increases success in breast-feeding

(Findings taken from “Mothering the Mother” by Klaus, Kennell & Klaus, 1993)

Take a look around my website and see what other benefits having a doula can offer you.

Sam

http://doulaneedahelpinghand.webs.com/

The Association of Radical Midwives Conference 2010 Staffordshire

By Lisa Lactivist, on October 7th, 2010

The day is approaching rapidly!

Only 10 days until midwifery comes together to move mountains towards a better future!

There are 40 tickets remaining, if you would like to reserve one to avoid paying the ‘on the day’ rate please email armconference@gmail.com ASAP!

Yarnfield Park

Staffordshire

Saturday 16^th October 2010

Programme

8.00 Doors open & Registration begins

Exhibition time and Drinks

9.15 Chair Sheena Byrom opens the conference in

The Howden Suite

9.30 Denise Tiran

“COMPLEMENTARY THERAPIES AND THE “CHINESE WHISPERS” EFFECT: PROFESSIONAL ISSUES FOR MIDWIVES”

10.30 Lesley Page

“BIRTH POLITICS: MOTHER AND BABY ARE WELL”

11.30 Refreshment Break and Exhibition Time

12.00 Dr Comfort Momoh MBE

“FEMALE GENITAL MUTILATION: AN OVERVIEW”

13.00 Lunch and Exhibition Time

14.00 Michèle Ball

“SERVEDIRECT UGANDA”

14.30 Workshops

Listen in with mother – Fraser Morton – Howden Suite

HIV and the Midwife – Rachel Wookey – Leighton Suite

Clinical Skills: The ‘OP’ Labour – Sarah Montagu & Jane Evans – Knighton Suite

Aromatherapy – Expectancy – Room 3

The Diabetic Mother – Di Todd – Room 6

Normalising the Consultant led unit – Lyndsay Durkin –Room 7

Life Coaching – Louise Griffin – Room 9

Caring and Sharing – Claire Kennard – Room 11

15.30 Refreshment break and Exhibition Time

15.55 Raffle Draw

16.00 Maternity Forum starting with

Sheena Byrom

“Midwives, mothers and obstetricians: pushing the boundaries”

18.00 Brenda Van Der Kooy and Annie Francis for IMUK

“IMS AND PCTS”

18.30 Chair Sheena Byrom closes the conference

Sheena Byrom is currently the Head of Midwifery for a large maternity service, in the North West of England. In her previous role as Consultant Midwife she listened to women who were traumatised by birth, and has used this knowledge to support others and to maximise potential to challenge current systems of maternity care. Sheena has published work in this area, has presented nationally and internationally and has developed a variety of service user initiatives to promote change. She was nominated twice to meet with the Prime Minister in 2004, has been involved in several national projects with NICE and the Department of Health.

Denise Tiran, MSc RM RGN ADM PGCEA, a midwife, complementary practitioner and visiting lecturer at the University of Greenwich, is an internationally acclaimed authority on maternity-related complementary medicine. Denise is founder and Director of Expectancy which provides accredited complementary therapy courses for midwives.

Lesley Page is Visiting Professor of Midwifery at the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing and Midwifery, King’s College London, Adjunct Professor University of Technology Sydney and Visiting Professor University of Sydney. Lesley was expert adviser to the King’s Fund independent inquiry into the safety of maternity services in England that reported in Safe Births: Everybody’s Business (2008). Lesley has had many years experience working as a senior manager in the NHS and in midwifery practice, leadership and academia in the United Kingdom and Canada. She has published widely and has lectured in many parts of the world. She was a member of the Expert Maternity Group that wrote Changing Childbirth, published in 1993, and was specialist adviser to the House of Commons Sub-committee responsible for investigating the state of maternity services in 2003. For many years, Lesley’s research has focused on the effects of carer continuity on birth outcomes and evidence based care. Her clinical practice is in the Birth Centre and Community Maternity Service in Chipping Norton Oxon that is part of the Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals NHS Trust. Together with Rona McCandlish she is editor of the well known book ‘The New Midwifery: Science and Sensitivity in Practice’ (2006) published by Elsevier.

Dr Comfort Momoh, M.B.E (RN, RM, FPN, BSC, MSC – London), FGM Consultant/Public Health Specialist with extensive experience of holistic women centred care management, joined the National Health Services in 1985 and had worked in a number of areas. She is a researcher of women’s health and a strong campaigner for the eradication of FGM. She established and runs the African Well Woman’s Clinic at Guy’s and St Thomas Foundation Trust, a support service for women and girls who have undergone FGM.

The Association of Radical Midwives

4th Annual conference

Building Bridges:

Moving Mountains

http://www.armconference.co.uk/

Lesson Two: Breastfeeding Will Kill You or Make You Attractive to Unicorns (The Stir)

By Lisa Lactivist, on October 1st, 2010

I held my breath as I read this but there are bits of it I thought were very funny and worth sharing:

“This week I really wanted to write about something less controversial than breastfeeding. Something like forced prayer in school. Or using gene splicing to make babies that have cat faces. But those ideas were shut down so I’m back to tackling breastfeeding. Buckle up, buttercup. This is probably gonna get bloody.

Remember when we were kids and everyone had those Choose-Your-Own-Adventure books and you’d hold your finger over the last page you went to so that if you died in the book you could be all “Oh, wait. No. I meant that I didn’t want to open the casket. I meant to not choose that. Turn to page 8.” And your teacher wouldn’t let you do book reports on them because apparently a book report consisting of “According to the cover, this book was about a dragon but I never got there because I died on page 8. The-end” was just another example of “your continued failure to apply yourself”?

Well, you know what? Fuck you, Mrs. Johnson, because those books were a metaphor for life. Every day we make choices that take us further into our own adventure as we write our own stories and try not to get eaten by dragons. That last part is a metaphor too. Unless you live in a house filled with komodo dragons. In which case you should probably fumigate.

My point here though is that choosing whether to breastfeed or not is one of the many choices that people have to make in life and almost never does that decision result in dragon attacks. It does, however, often result in personal attacks as women who choose to breastfeed and women who don’t both face harsh judgment and occasionally even battle each other gladiator-style. Except they do it metaphorically online rather than on a televised screen where the rest of us could actually enjoy it.

I’m slightly biased here because after months of agonizing pumping, lactation consultants, and medications that made me smell exactly like pancakes (true story), I finally gave up and instead used those agonizing pumping hours to bond with my daughter. I wished I’d had someone there to tell me that that was okay. Another friend struggled through valiantly and wished that she had someone there to tell her she was a saint for not quitting. Neither of us got what we needed because this column didn’t exist then. But it does now. So get ready to choose your own adventure. If you have successfully breastfed your child, then go to section one. If you are giving up on breastfeeding, then go to section two. If you never had a choice on whether to breastfeed, go to section three.

Section 1: You choose to breastfeed. Congratulations! You are a bad-ass mother. Not only will your child have a stronger immune system and be healthier than non-breastfed kids but you’ll also create a bond that will stay with you and your child forever. Plus, they’ll be able to levitate and trap unicorns. I’m not sure about the last two but this is what my lactation consultant implied to me when I told her I was quitting. Breastfeeding is also a great form of entertainment and self-defense as my sister was so good at it she could hit the cat with her boob milk from across the living room. I could too but only with the bottles of breast milk that my sister had in her freezer. That cat hated me.True story. And supposedly you lose weight like mad when you breastfeed. It’s like being bulimic but you don’t have to throw up and no one threatens to send you to a mental institution. Plus, I’ve heard that formula has bugs in it. Like, not as many bugs as hot dogs have in them but probably close. You. Are. Awesome and I’m applauding you. Go have some chocolate cake. You deserve it. Also, women who breastfeed have a lowered risk of breast cancer.

Stop reading now.

Section 2: You tried to breastfeed but it just didn’t take so you’re quitting. Congratulations! You are a bad-ass mother. I know that’s what I just told the moms who are still breastfeeding but that’s because it’s true either way. Whatever decision you make for your child is the right one … because it’s your decision. Unless your decision is to let a wild bear breastfeed your child. That’s a terrible decision. I’m not even sure why we’re having to clarify this. It is true that breastfed babies have some health advantages but you know who was breastfed? Hitler. Probably. I don’t really know that for sure but it’s possible. Also, my lactation consultant told me that women who breastfeed have a lowered risk of breast cancer which sounds awesome but I pointed out that it also kind of sounds like maybe you’re feeding your baby breast cancer. This is when my lactation consultant got all huffy walked out. Then I yelled after her “That’s probably why they call them ‘booby traps.’” She never came back. My point here is that this is one of many decisions that you will make (and be judged for) as a parent and that this one just feels worse because you’re too sleep deprived to think straight. You. Are. Awesome and I’m applauding you. Go have several margaritas. You deserve it.

Stop reading now.

Section 3: You aren’t breastfeeding because you adopted your child or you are a father or you don’t have kids or you’re on too much meth to breastfeed. Congratulations! You don’t even have to think about this. Doesn’t this all seem ridiculous and overblown from the outside looking in? Yes. Yes it does. You. Are. Awesome and I’m applauding you. Unless you’re one of the people on meth. You have a problem and you need to get that shit worked out. For real. Meth-laced milk is terrible. Unless you’re a meth addict, in which case it probably tastes delicious. I don’t really know how meth works.

Stop reading now. Also, stop taking meth. That’s probably the only valuable bit of advice I’ve given in this entire column.

Join me next week for Lesson Three: Your children’s names are stupid. Stop doing that.

Lesson Two: Breastfeeding Will Kill You or Make You Attractive to Unicorns

Posted by Jenny Lawson

on September 30, 2010 at 11:37 AM

What makes a great Breastfeeding Support Group?

By Lisa Lactivist, on September 22nd, 2010

I have 2 experiences of support groups.

The first was an ante-natal group at the local health centre. Nescafe on offer (Oh, said the midwife, I didn’t know it was Nestle) and then the midwife and I had an argument because she said that when you have ‘baby’ (I do so hate the ‘the’ being missed out) you will instantly bond with it. I know people who have hated their children on sight and I asked what help would be available if that happened and the midwife said ‘It won’t happen, you will bond with baby’. I didn’t go to any more ante-natal groups.

My second experience of support groups was with the local La Leche League. This was a whole lot better though I did feel slightly intimidated by the sheer amount of Boden compared to my Primark I felt welcomed and included. I went to quite a few La Leche meetings and though I didn’t feel like I fitted in I did feel liked and supported.

So what makes a good support group? The La Leche groups were held in a beautiful large rambling house and the Ante-Natal group in a grotty little room in a health centre. The La Leche groups were mostly composed of middle class affluent women, the Ante-Natal group was from my area, which is mostly immigrants with English as a second language. Was it the subject matter the groups covered? Both had a topic for that week though the angle was rather different, where the Ante-Natal group would cover pain relief and medical intervention the La Leche League would cover breastfeeding positions and herbalism.

What do you think? Have you been to any great groups? What made them great? If you were setting up a group and had all the money in the world to do it what would it look like? What would happen in the meetings?

I’m enjoying giving out Mothers Milk Marketing Boards Seal of Approval Awards so if there are any great ones that deserve recognition please tell me why.

Lisa

50 best breastfeeding resources on the web

By Lisa Lactivist, on September 16th, 2010

I am gutted not to be on this, genuinly upset, however, as Lactivist is all about sharing information here is the list.

http://thestir.cafemom.com/baby/109270/50_best_breastfeeding_resources_on

I can’t cut and paste it ‘cos all the ads paste as well.

Feeding Your Bub Survey – UK mums of babies under 18mths wanted.

By Lisa Lactivist, on September 16th, 2010

Australian researchers are embarking on a study of mums in the United Kingdom to discover if “guilt-tripping women” into breastfeeding is effective in persuading them to opt for breast over bottle.

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) is a recognised leader in breastfeeding research and has already undertaken a study in Australia and the US.

Lead researcher Joy Parkinson, from QUT’s School of Advertising Marketing and Public Relations, said women were often made to feel guilty for not breastfeeding their children when in fact a more supportive approach might be the answer.

Mrs Parkinson said a study by QUT of almost 1400 women in Australia and the United States had revealed support and encouragement from family and friends to persevere with breastfeeding rather than support from health professionals was the key to boosting breastfeeding rates.

“Breastfeeding rates in developed countries such as the UK, Australia and US are typically lower than World Health Organisation goals,” she said.

“We are now seeking mums with babies less than 18 months old from across the UK to take part in the Feeding Your Bub survey.

Mrs Parkinson said women already understood that breastfeeding was good for their baby, and what they needed were the tools to help them to breastfeed longer.

“By understanding the needs of breastfeeding mums in the UK we can work towards developing a global approach to encourage women to keep breastfeeding,” she said.

“Breastfeeding isn’t a simple behaviour. It isn’t a case of if you like it, you can do it. It is much more complex.

“Governments and breastfeeding advocates across the globe have tended to focus on a campaign of fear and guilt to push women to breastfeed and in the UK it’s no different.”

“What we have found in the US and Australia is that preaching the benefits of breastfeeding, is like preaching to the converted and does not increase breastfeeding duration rates.”

Mrs Parkinson said her study revealed mums required personal support and encouragement to stick with breastfeeding, especially when the going got tough.

“Results from the US and Australian study indicated that support from the baby’s father was an important aspect in helping women breastfeed, with more than 88 per cent of women surveyed indicating that they received lots of support from their partner,” she said.

“Only 31 per cent indicated they received support from a health professional.”

The contact is Joy Parkinson, her email is joy.parkinson@qut.edu.au

The survey website is http://survey.qut.edu.au/survey/168354/5322/

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